Outside the Box Festival: Fun for the Whole Family

Music and comedic fun for the whole family from the Emmy-winning foursome. Photo via Imagination Movers Facebook Page.

Is swim team already starting to lose its luster? The kids (not to mention you) are in luck: Boston’s first Outside the Box Festival has arrived—and with it, activities for the whole brood.

The festival (held in public areas around the city from July 13 to July 21) describes its aim as not only “to unify the community, but to make art accessible to everyone.” To that end, over 200 events will play out over the course of the week-long festival. Think theater, dance, and cutting-edge indie bands. And best of all (beside the fact that admission is free), the agenda boasts tons of family-friendly and interactive happenings. Read on for picks that we think the kids will love, then round up the gang and get in on the action.

Jellyfish at the New England Aquarium are an amazing sight. Photo credit: morgueFile.

New England Aquarium (July 15, 1 p.m.–4 p.m.): This one’s for all those budding Jacques Cousteaus out there. On Monday, July 15, the Aquarium will host its Tidepool Open House Program for the Outside the Box Festival. There, your kids will have the chance to hold and observe tidepool life, all hailing from local waters.

Imagination Movers (July 17, 12 p.m.–1:30 p.m.): The New York Times described this Emmy-winning foursome—which you may know from the show on Disney Junior—as being “prized by many parents for non-condescending lyrics and music that evokes the Beastie Boys or Red Hot Chili Peppers.” Translation? Musical and comedic fun for the whole family.

A Creative Magic Experience with Jay Fraser (July 16, 3 p.m.–3:45 p.m.; July 18, 2:30 p.m.–3:15 p.m.): Magic and kids = entertainment no-brainer. And this professional magician is the real deal, packing almost one hour’s worth of mind-boggling tricks per show. Don’t be surprised when the little ones are begging to be enrolled in magic lessons.

Puppet Showplace Theatre (PST) (July 16, 3 p.m.–4 p.m.; July 18, 1 p.m.–2 p.m.; July 20, 1 p.m.–2 p.m.): Founded in 1974, PST is New England’s most celebrated puppetry program. The group, based out of Brookline, has three different shows in store for this particular Festival, featuring everything from clowns to science. And if your kids love the show (which they likely will), the PST offers classes, camps, and workshops, too.

Freedom Trail Foundation Scholars Program (July 13–20, 12 p.m.–2 p.m.): Treat the family to one seriously fun (and interactive) lesson in American history. With two actors performing various roles, key Revolutionary events are made accessible to all audiences. Think Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, and Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride. Cue the kiddos acing that unit in school.